Pursuing Happiness

1. Jesus challenges us to become like little children

Matthew 18:3-4 “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

• Innocence, humility and purity

• Joy – children look for reasons to laugh and be happy

• Q: Have we been so concerned with our piety that we have forgotten joy/happiness of being God’s children?

• [A friend of mine and I perused some church directories several years ago. When looking at staff pictures we noticed that the most somber, non-smiling, stressed-looking Ministers were the “Outreach Ministers.”

• [Charles Spurgeon told his preaching students to put on a joyous face whenever they spoke of heaven. In speaking of hell, he said, “Your normal face will do.”

2. Something in us LONGS for happiness and we seek it in appropriate and inappropriate ways.

3. Happiness is an “inside-out” proposition – not based on circumstances but on a connection – Acts 13:52

52 And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

4. Ephesians 1:3-10

I. A Happy Holiness – Ephesians 1:4

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

A. Holiness is Being Set Apart for God – Daily

1. [Shiloh – broken pottery everywhere because they did not want to confuse the profane with the holy

2. [Sabbath, Israel, etc. – set apart for God’s purposes

B. To Be Holy:

1. Avoid the Negative – Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2. Embrace the Positive – Psalm 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3. Tension: In world, not OF world – 1 John 2:15-17

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

II. A Happy Direction – Ephesians 1:3-4

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

A. “Blameless” defined

1. NOT Sinless – Romans 3:23

2. NT = Without reproach; faultless//OT – Free from guilt, innocent

3. Proverbs 11:20 Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the LORD,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

4. ONLY by Jesus – Ephesians 1:3

B. Based on Faith

1. As righteousness apart from Law (legalism) – Romans 3:21-22

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

2. As Righteousness based on Faith – Philippians 3:9

and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith

3. Responsibility on God vs. Responsibility on us

III. A Happy Thought – Ephesians 1:9-10

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

A. God Revealed His Mystery

1. DBR

2. Unknown for a time – 1 Corinthians 2:8 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

B. Connecting Joy and Thought –

• Philippians 4:8

• Joshua 1:8 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

1. Elvis and Children of the King

After the Elvis Presley died it became fairly common to read headlines in the Tabloids such as: "I was Elvis’ Love Child.” Many people claimed to be related to "The King" either for the prestige of wearing his name or possibly to try and get a share of his inheritance. In the heat of all this activity, a Detroit radio station advertised that for just $2 and a self-addressed, stamped envelope, YOU TOO could be Elvis’ child.